Instructional Routine II

Guided reading:

The goal of guided reading is for students to develop skills to help them read independently. I think guided reading is a great strategy to use with students. I try and use guided reading with my cousin who is in second grade and it really helped him read silently and now he is reading fluently. Guided reading can help a teacher differentiate and group children in different reading levels. A teacher can target those specific skills and strategies needed to advance a student to the next level. Some groups may need help on other things while another group may need a higher level of guided reading. This way the teacher can work with all the students and meet their needs. I liked how the reading mentioned how the teacher breaks up the students in the class so that she is able to work on their reading and know which group needs help in certain areas based off of their reading levels. In my field work that I am in now the teacher has boxes for each student with books for their reading level. While they are reading their books, the teacher has a small group working on guided reading. The children also have the option of having a reading partner. This way it can build a child’s stamina until they are able to function on their own. I strongly believe that guided reading is an important strategy to use with children. Students will be able to learn skills which will allow them to read those difficult texts independently. The article made some really good points about guided reading. What I found interesting about the article is the guided reading program concept. I like how the program allows students to become familiar with a variety of different books that meets their reading level.

What If “Just right” is “ Just wrong” “?

Hoffman is asking educators if they have done enough to level texts and readers. Sometimes us educators may think a text is good for the student, but in reality it is not. I liked how the author included an example of a teaching plan for the interests, inquiry, and advocacy of the student. “Just right” leveling denies access to informational texts that readers want to read and can read. After reading a few of these, I see how leveled reading and reading levels come with certain consequences.

How Knowledge Powers Reading

I think it is important that teachers become familiar with their students and how us teachers can make learning easy and fun for them. The article mentions hoe background knowledge is more important than skill when it comes to most things. I really enjoyed reading this article. I feel like I now have knowledge on why background knowledge is so important.